The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What evidence they have, such as opinionpolls, that the Afghan people still connect the presence of foreign troops with reconstruction and development.

Lord Triesman: UK troops are in Afghanistan as part of the UN-mandated NATO International Security Assistance Force, and at the request of the Afghan Government, to establish the secure environment necessary for reconstruction and development to take place. Reconstruction of a country ravaged by more than 25 years of conflict is a long-term endeavour. Challenges remain, particularly in the south. But Afghan people are starting to see results across much of the country, particularly in regions where security has been restored. An ABC News/BBC World Service poll published last December shows that 74 per cent of Afghans consider that their living conditions are better than under the Taliban and eight in 10 Afghans support the presence of international troops in their country. While life in Afghanistan is far from easy, most Afghans are conscious of the important amount of resources allocated by the international community to the security and reconstruction of their country. Most Afghans continue to rely on international forces to re-establish the security necessary for reconstruction and development. The enduring unpopularity of the Taliban (89 per cent of Afghans view them unfavourably) and the levels of support for the current Government are testament to the fact that the Afghan people consider that Afghanistan is heading in the right direction. International troops, including close to 6,000 British soldiers, are assisting the Afghan Government and their people along the way.
	The ABC News/BBC World Service poll is available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/l/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/07_12_06AfghanistanWhereThingsStand.pdf.
	The very comprehensive Asia Foundation Survey for 2006 might also be of interest. It is available at: wvw.asiafoundation.org/Locations/afghanistan_survey06.html.

Lord Drayson: The "Low Technology Threats to Strategic Reach Aircraft" study is intended to report in March 2007. The findings will not be published externally as thiswould or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness and security of our Armed Forces.

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many members of the Armed Forces were diagnosed with methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (a) during routine military service; (b) in military hospitals; and (c) in Ministry of Defence hospital units in 2005 and 2006; and
	What precautions are taken to reduce the riskof Armed Forces personnel contracting hospital-acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); and
	Whether they have made an assessment of the possible increased susceptibility of members of the Armed Forces to methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) if they are placed in general hospitals or Ministry of Defence hospital units; and, if such assessments were taken into account when the decision to close Royal Hospital Haslar was taken; and
	Whether Ministry of Defence hospital units are separated from general hospital wards to reduce the risk of members of the Armed Forces having increased susceptibility to hospital-acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA); and whether procedures are in place to reduce the risk of members of the Armed Forces contracting HA-MRSA through staff passing between general patients and service personnel.

Lord Drayson: Ministry of Defence hospital units (MDHUs) are locatedwithin NHS hospitals at Derriford, Frimley Park, Peterborough, Portsmouth, Northallerton and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham. The primary purpose of these units is to provide medical training to military medical personnel.
	The precise number of military patients diagnosed with MRSA in NHS hospitals is not recorded separately. This information could be obtained only by searching through individual medical records with that person's permission.
	The total number of patients of all types who have been diagnosed with MRSA at the hosting NHS hospital can, however, be found on the Health Protection Agency website: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hai/mandatory_report_2006.htm.
	In the case of our remaining military hospitals outside the UK (The Princess Margaret Military Hospital in Akrotiri, Cyprus, and the Royal Navy Hospital, Gibraltar), where the numbers of service patients are small, there were no recorded cases of MRSA in military personnel in 2005 and 2006.
	It is rare for patients to remain in field hospitals for more than a day or two. Medical staff will provide any immediate surgical treatment that is required, but any patients needing further surgery or longer-term hospital care will then be aeromedically evacuated back to the UK. We estimate the prevalence of MRSA to be very low tending to negligible. As a result, medical personnel screen a patient only if they have clinical indicators of an infection. There are no known cases where a patient has shown signs of infection or tested positively for either organism in UK military field hospitals in 2006.
	The NHS has standard infection control and hygiene measures in place, combined with the prudent use of antibiotics to prevent and control any outbreak of infection. The Defence Medical Services has robust and stringent infection control procedures which fully meet NHS requirements. We take the issue of infection control seriously and work to ensure the best possible healthcare for all service personnel. Standards of infectious disease control at our field hospitals are at least equivalent to those within the NHS.
	The military-managed ward which has been established at Selly Oak hospital, Birmingham is contained in a block where NHS patient treatment takes place. We consider that the control and prevention of MRSA in a military population is not so much a case of segregating military patients from the general public rather it is about the observation of infection control procedures for which detailed instructions are prepared and promulgated within the NHS. The MoD is not aware of any evidence published that suggests that military patients are more susceptible to MRSA than general patients, and therefore this was not a factor when the decision to close the Royal Hospital Haslar was taken.

Lord Drayson: We have been following the development of the draft Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in Areas of Armed Conflict Bill veryclosely and are urgently investigating the potential consequences for South African personnel currently serving in the UK Armed Forces, should the legislation be enacted, so that we can support those who may be affected. We greatly value the service given by South African personnel and are keeping them appraised of the situation at regular intervals.

Lord Triesman: The Aarhus Centre in Baku performs a useful role in promoting public environmental awareness in Azerbaijan. There is no direct equivalent of an Aarhus Centre in the United Kingdom. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affair's environmental information unit provides advice and guidance, on the environmental information regulations which derive from the Aarhus Convention.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The national service framework for mental health (1999) identifies excessive stress as one of the factors that can reduce mental well-being and, in some cases, lead to physical and mental ill health. As such, stress is part of Making it possible: improving mental health and well-being in England (2006), which provides good practice to support the development and delivery of action to improve mental health and well-being.
	The Shift anti-stigma workplace campaign, Action on Stigma, is in line with our emphasis on improving mental health for the whole community. Shift, which is being run from 2004-09 by the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE), and is funded by the department, is an integral part of NIMHE's work in tackling stigma and discrimination in mental health. Through Action on Stigma, Shift is helping employers to reduce the discrimination faced by people with mental health problems in the workplace. The initiative has included a listening exercise involving more than 500 employers and Shift will be producing an action plan for employers in 2007.
	The Government recognise the importance of tackling work-related stress (WRS) to both the economy and the health of the nation, with the topic also being covered in both the Health Work and Wellbeing Strategy and the Department for Work and Pension's work on welfare reform. WRS is also one of the priority topics identified in the Health and Safety Commission's strategy for workplace health and safety 2010.
	In 2004, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched the management standards for tackling work-related stress (MS) and is supporting organisations through the process.
	Nearly 1,500 organisations in the HSE's target sectors (central government, local government, health, education and financial services) have received support via sector implementation plans (SIPs). The first (SIP1) saw nearly 80 organisations provided with direct support from an HSE inspector and access to nearly £300,000 of Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) adviser time. SIP2 started with a series of 69 workshops in late 2006/early 2007 with more than 1,400 organisations represented. Support for SIP2 organisations is provided via a telephone helpline, a series of master classes and guidance on how to choose professional assistance if required.
	For employers outside the target sectors, help is still available. Workplace Health Connect is a pilot initiative providing advice to small and medium organisations on a number of occupational health issues, including WRS.
	A wealth of guidance is also available on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk with content being added regularly. This is in addition to the free printed guidance, also available on the website: Making the stress Management Standards work: How to apply the Standards in your workplace which gives an overview of the process and the stressors identified and Tackling stress: the management standards approach— a short guide.
	Guidance for employees is also available on the website and in the publication entitled Working together to reduce stress at work—a guide for employees which was co-published with ACAS and the Trades Union Congress.
	Managers have been identified as having a significant bearing on staff's experiences in the workplace. In light of this, HSE has commissioned research from Goldsmiths College on the competencies and behaviour required to minimise WRS—the findings from this work will be launched in March 2007.

Lord Drayson: As at 27 February 2007, UK Forces were holding 113 individuals in Iraq, at the divisional temporary detention facility (DTDF) at Shaibah logistics base. Eight are on remand while their cases are heard by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI). One has been convicted by the CCCI and is being held while arrangements are made for his transfer to the Iraqi prison service. The remaining internees are held under the authorisation contained in letters annexed to United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1546, as carried forward by resolutions 1637 and 1723.
	Since its opening in December 2003 UK forces have interred in the region of 1,500 persons. As would be expected, the numbers of internees have fluctuated in accordance with the type and tempo of operations. Generally, since 2004, the numbers held range between 30 and 130.
	Of the 118 who were held on 8 February 2007:
	Five had been held for more than two years (one convicted prisoner, two on remand, two internees)Five had been held for 18 to 24 months (five internees)22 had been held for 12 to 18 months (22 internees) 45 had been held for six to 12 months (three on remand, 42 internees)41 had been held for zero to six months (three on remand, 38 internees)
	Those detained are assessed and released or interred. All cases of internees are reviewed monthly by MND(SE). In addition, these cases go to a joint Iraqi and MNF-I review board every three months. There are additional review procedures for those held for a period in excess of 18 months.

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What capabilities the central government of Iraq have developed to assist with the delivery of security in Basra.

Lord Triesman: We are concerned by the impactof Israel's military operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Israel, like all states, has the right to defend itself against terrorism, which the UK condemns absolutely. However, Israel must ensure that its actions comply with international humanitarian law and minimise the impact on civilians. Our embassy in Tel Aviv raised our concerns regarding the impact of the military incursion in Nablus with the Israeli Defence Force on 8 March.

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the agreement of 13 February on nuclear restraint with North Korea will be used as a model for agreements with other countries with nuclear weapons inside or outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework andas a means to persuade non-NPT signatories, including Israel, into NPT membership.

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 21 February (WA 258), what arethe inter-departmental co-ordinating mechanisms concerning light pollution between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Communities and Local Government; and which Minister has overall responsibility for the proposed guidance.

Baroness Andrews: Policy responsibility for statutory nuisance from artificial light rests with the Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Planning controls, which provide an important mechanism for limiting the effects of light pollution, are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. This means that the two departments work closely together in this subject and are currently collaborating on the production of planning guidance for local planning authorities on planning and pollution issues.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: General practitioners (GP) receive a pension based on the net profits they make due to National Health Service work based on their average revalued pensionable earnings for each year of service. It follows that increases in net NHS profits in the past three years will be fully pensionable for those years.
	Following consultation with the British Medical Association, the Government have capped the revaluations of the value of GP pensions contributions paid in past years.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The current refurbishment of the First Great Western high-speed train rolling stock is intended to provide a 10-year life extension to support services during the current franchise until the introduction of their replacement, the InterCity Express for which a procurement announcement in line with European procedures will be made in March.
	Work to fit toilet retention tanks to the existing rolling stock would require increase train weight and require major structural modifications that cannot be justified as part of the life extension. However, the decision to reverse the present position belongs to First Great Western and not the Government. The InterCity Express rolling stock will include retention tanks.

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the substantial increase in highly-geared private equity takeovers of publicly listed companies in the past three years represents an increased risk to employment or economic stability in the United Kingdom in an economic downturn.

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will review the amount of interest payments which are tax-deductible in the early life of highly-borrowed companies set up to make takeover bids.

Lord Rooker: Carrickfergus Castle is the most popular of the historic monuments cared for by Environment and Heritage Service (EHS), with almost 60,000 visitors in 2006. The staff complement includes a castle manager, assistant manager, custodian, tour guides and receptionists.
	EHS's actions have included installing reduced-scale siege weaponry, refurbishing the model figures, upgrading the reception building (making it more suitable for disabled people) and improving the castle vaults for use by schools. During 2006 EHS carried out major conservation work on the walls on the seaward side. During 2007, work will continue on the entrance towers.
	Other actions underway for 2007 include commissioning a new audio-visual presentation, producing a new guidebook, and further improving facilities for disabled people. EHS is considering opening sections of the wall walk to supervised groups and assembing military memorabilia.
	The castle will host a number of events throughout 2007. These include a fencing competition in June,the Lughnasa Fair in July, the Halloween Fair in October, and a series of living history events and demonstrations throughout the year. The castle may also be used when Carrickfergus hosts the Walled Towns of Ireland Association in the autumn.
	I am satisfied that EHS's programme of work is greatly enhancing the appeal of Carrickfergus Castle as a tourist attraction. The agency will continue to work with the council and tourism industry to achieve that.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The information requested on reported personal injury on road accidents has been published by the department on its website in table 8.2 of Transport Statistics Great Britain: 2006 edition. This table can be found at the following web address: www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/tsgb/2006edition/sectioneighttransportacciden1846. A copy of this publication is also available in the Libraries of the House.
	Statistics on railway safety are published by the Office of Rail Regulation in its annual reports on railway safety, which are available in the Libraries of the House or from its website: www.rail-reg.gov.uk.

Lord Rooker: I understand from Waterways Ireland that this work is currently advertised for tender. It is intended that the work will be undertaken by a private contractor. This project will commence in 2007 and run into 2008.
	The work is estimated to cost in the region of€1.3 million.
	Selection of contractors is at all times carried out in accordance with the Waterways Ireland Financial Memorandum.

Lord Rooker: The installation of navigation signage and jetties on Lough Erne form part of Waterways Ireland's 2007 capital programme.
	Navigational signage will be installed in 2007 as part of a rolling programme of signage modernisation. The current phase is due to be completed by December 2007, at an estimated cost of €11,000. Contractors will be used as and when required.
	Jetties will be installed at a number of locations and are due to be completed by March 2008, at an estimated cost of €390,000. Contractors have been used to date and will continue to be used as and when required.
	Selection of contractors is at all times carried out in accordance with the Waterways Ireland Financial Memorandum.